Beef Feast in Mizoram as Home Minister Rajnath Singh visits state

Aizawl (zoramobserver.com): A beef feast will be held today in Mizoram capital Aizawl to coincide with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the state. Security has been beefed up in view of the minister’s visit.

ZOlife Group and some activists who are organising the protest event said in a Facebook post that the main event will be held at Vanapa Hall in the city.

“We invite the general public to join the event at 2 pm at Vanapa Hall,” Chchakchuak Lalremruata said in a Facebook post yesterday.

The controversial decision of the BJP-led government at the Centre banning slaughter of cattle for sale in markets has been opposed by many groups and state governments including Kerala where beef feasts were organised across the state. The BJP leaders and workers in Meghalaya’s Tura district also tendered their resignation last week in protest against the Central government’s decision that goes against their “cultural dish”.

‘Bawngsung chartang’ is another popular dish among the Mizos.

Mizoram still mum on beef ban

The Government of Mizoram has not stated its stand on the issue of “beef ban” while some states have protested officially on the ground that “food is a state subject” and the Centre has no rights to control the food habit of the people.

“We are totally against the government’s attempts to ban the most important traditional food item of the Mizos. We invite everyone to join this event,” the organisers said, while urging people to spread the news of the event and to bring their friends for the protest event.

Will Rajnath make a statement?

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and MoS (Home) Kiren Rijiju are expected to land in Aizawl today and hold a security meeting on India-Myanmar border issues with chief ministers of Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Singh will also visit Parva village in Lawngtlai District and other Myanmar border areas by a BSF helicopter.

Many people have spoken out on social media like Facebook against the Central rule and the general feeling is that the minister should make a statement on the controversial decision. Sources in the state unit of the BJP said they are hopeful that Rajnath should make a statement on the issue as the party is gearing up for the 2018 Assembly election.